DR Congo lineup vs. England: Predicted XI for World Cup last-32 match as Cedric Bakambu call made

Congo DR caput manager Sebastien Desabre faces a peculiar attacking dilemma for the Leopards' World Cup 2026 last-32 lucifer against England connected Wednesday evening.

The African federation progressed from Group K successful 3rd place, acknowledgment to a 3-1 triumph implicit Uzbekistan connected the last matchday, erstwhile Yoane Wissa scored doubly either broadside of a Fiston Mayele effort.

Wissa - who has scored 1 much extremity astatine the World Cup than successful the full of the 2025-26 Premier League - is simply a warrant up top, but Mayele has thrown his chapeau into the ringing to regenerate Cedric Bakambu, arsenic helium did successful the 51st infinitesimal of the Uzbekistan victory.

Thirty-five-year-old Bakambu - 1 extremity distant from matching Dieumerci Mbokani's all-time grounds of 22 for Congo - is yet to people oregon assistance astatine the World Cup, but Desabre has kept religion successful the Real Betis guardant and should bash truthful again from the archetypal whistle successful Atlanta.

Wissa and Bakambu should signifier a acquainted onslaught concern successful a 5-3-2 system, arsenic Desabre reverts to a antiaircraft signifier to effort to incorporate England aft trialling retired an attack-minded 4-4-2 connected matchday three.

Expect Sunderland's Noah Sadiki to helm the midfield three, alongside Edo Kayembe and Samuel Moutoussamy, portion Brian Cipenga is apt to driblet retired for an other defender successful Steve Kapuadi.

The second joins a fewer acquainted names successful the backline - Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Arthur Masuaku, Axel Tuanzebe and Chancel Mbemba, acceptable to triumph a record-extending 113th elder cap.

DR Congo imaginable starting lineup:

Mpasi-Nzau; Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Kapuadi, Masuaku; Moutoussamy, Sadiki, Kayembe; Wissa, Bakambu

> Click present to spot however England could enactment up against DR Congo